Zhang Chen watched Chu Mingyue rush at him, a cold smile appearing on his lips. If the opponent were using a weapon, with his superior reaction speed and enhanced strength, Zhang Chen might be a bit wary. But now?
Ultrasonic waves spread out, and the orientation of the opponent’s muscle lines appeared in his vision. Zhang Chen ignored Chu Mingyue’s crashing palm, and his iron sword followed a mysterious trajectory, stabbing toward a certain empty space.
"Zhang Chen’s sword is destined to miss. A martial artist trained in Qi Blood and an ordinary martial artist are two entirely different species." Someone exclaimed in surprise.
Xiaodouding tightly clenched his fists in his sleeves, his eyes filled with tension.
To outsiders, it seemed Zhang Chen was falling behind due to his speed, and that his sword had missed. But only Zhang Chen knew, this strike was bound to hit.
Chu Mingyue’s punch, swift and preemptive, reached Zhang Chen first. But as his fist touched Zhang Chen’s skin, the Body-Stabilizing Rune was triggered, flowing along Zhang Chen’s skin into Chu Mingyue’s fist.
This was a fifth-tier Body-Stabilizing Rune. How could Chu Mingyue break free from it?
In an instant, Chu Mingyue was immobilized, and Zhang Chen’s treasure sword reached its peak brilliance, directly stabbing below Chu Mingyue, causing a chunk of flesh to fall.
From the immobilization of Chu Mingyue to Zhang Chen using the treasure sword to sever Chu Mingyue’s "bull," it all happened in the space of a breath. Zhang Chen then swiftly retracted the Body-Stabilizing Rune, rapidly retreating.
Outsiders couldn’t perceive the peculiarity within. Logically, Chu Mingyue’s punch should have sent Zhang Chen flying. But surprisingly, at the critical moment, Chu Mingyue suddenly paused, leading many to wonder if his internal injury flared up.
As for Zhang Chen’s Body-Stabilizing Rune causing Chu Mingyue to be immobilized, it was far too hidden for even the secretly observing Great Zhenren or the various elders to consider. All was attributed to Chu Mingyue’s inability to suppress his internal wounds, which had merely flared up.
Is that all there is!
"This kid is so lucky. Who would have thought Chu Mingyue’s internal injury would flare up at such a critical moment, letting him gain such an advantage for free."
Below the stage, a senior of Huangli Temple sighed inwardly, muttering how unfortunate Chu Mingyue was, not only with his internal injury flaring but also possibly losing his manhood forever.
"Ah..."
From the stands came Chu Mingyue’s wail. He crouched on the ground, rolling in pain, having already suffered internal injuries, and with now having his yang root severed, the forcibly gathered aura could no longer be sustained and collapsed directly.
"Zhang Chen, how could you be so ruthless in a fellow sect competition?" Liu Feng quickly ascended the platform. After examining Chu Mingyue, he angrily turned to Zhang Chen, his voice filled with fury.
Zhang Chen’s face was full of innocence: "Observatory Master, I don’t know why this happened either. My sword was supposed to miss, definitely not strike Chu Mingyue. But who would have thought Chu Mingyue would suddenly stop at the crucial moment, as if deliberately taking my blow. I am truly innocent."
Zhang Chen kept complaining, as if he was the one wronged by heaven, his small, helpless eyes making him appear more aggrieved than even Dou E.
"Brother Chu Mingyue, are you alright? I accidentally injured you, please forgive my transgression. I’m willing to make amends and accept my punishment." Zhang Chen swiftly moved in front of Chu Mingyue, squatting down, apologizing sincerely, his voice full of innocence.
Anyone watching Zhang Chen’s performance at this moment would never guess it was intentional.
But this did not escape the party involved, Chu Mingyue. Covering his crotch, his eyes blood-red, he glared at Zhang Chen, his voice shrill like an owl: "Zhang Chen, you did it on purpose! You did it on purpose! I want you dead, I want you dead!"
Chu Mingyue tried to lunge at Zhang Chen but fell flat on the ground, unable to move due to the internal injury flare-up.
"Chu Mingyue, are you such a sore loser? Everyone present witnessed it; it was an accident. That sword was not supposed to hit you, yet your internal injury suddenly flared up, immobilizing you, leading to your injury by Zhang Chen’s sword. It was clearly your own doing, why blame and slander Brother Zhang?" Chengyu could not watch Zhang Chen being "smeared" like that and stood up to defend him.
Upon hearing this, the elders all began to discuss, agreeing with Xiaodouding’s reasoning. Liu Feng stood on the stage with a gloomy face, inspecting Chu Mingyue’s injuries, and directed disciples to take him for medical treatment.
Everyone wasn’t blind; they could see it was an accident. So Liu Feng couldn’t reprimand Zhang Chen and only said grimly to him:
"Now it’s just you and the Little Prince left. Do you still wish to continue?"
"The Little Prince is of noble status, being the heir of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. In the Northern Land, no one dares clash with him. Blades and spears are unseeing; if you accidentally harm the Little Prince, you might face a fate worse than death. Furthermore, the Little Prince possesses Innate Divine Techniques. You’re no match for him in a single bout. Do you still want to continue?"
Liu Feng looked at Zhang Chen, although phrasing it as a question, his demeanor and tone left no doubt about his intentions.